where is the township and range system found

A row of townships extending north to south is called a range and a row east to west is called a tier. A township is, as nearly as possible, six miles by six miles. Each of these 24-mile squares is divided into sixteen smaller units of land called townships. The guide meridians and standard parallels form a 24-mile square. Because meridians converge, as they get closer to the poles, they must be broken at the base line and at each standard parallel. The north and south lines, called guide meridians, are not continuous throughout their length. They are one continuous, uninterrupted line.

The east-west lines are called standard parallels or corrections lines. In Oklahoma, land described using this system is referenced to either the Indian or the Cimarron Meridians.Īnother set of lines is established at 24-mile intervals north and south of the base line and at 24-mile intervals east and west of the principal meridian. The points where these two meet are known as initial points.

Each principal meridian has a parallel, which goes with it. The meridians are known as 'principal' meridians. The rectangular survey system also has its own special meridians and parallels throughout the United States. The vertical lines which converge at the north and south poles are known as meridians. The equator and all horizontal lines north and s This system is based on the idea of parallels and meridians that circle the globe. Written land descriptions may be based on the rectangular survey system (also known as the township and range system), a metes and bound description or a coordinate description system. In Oklahoma, land is described by written descriptions or legally recorded plats. A good land description will permanently and distinctly locate one and only one individual parcel of land. Once land is located it must also be given its own unique 'name'. Locating land is fundamental to the tax mapping process. At this time the GIS department only maintains a parcel layer with plans of adding new layers for locating and more accurately assessing property in Cleveland County. The department has been using ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) software for its mapping needs from the beginning to the present time. Cleveland County Assessor’s office GIS (Geographical Information System) has been is place since the early 1990s.

Where is the township and range system found